Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Meridian, ID
VS
Ontario, CA
🏆 Meridian leads 18 of 23 categories
Meridian
Idaho
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,296 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872
Ontario
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,070
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
176,326 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Meridian, ID
Pros
46% less violent crime than Ontario
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (2.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 43.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $87k less ($425,800 vs $513,000)
Households earn $15,226 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Ontario, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Median income trails Meridian by $15,226/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Meridian
Key Differences at a Glance
Meridian
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Median Income
$15,226
$93,296 vs $78,070/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
46% lower
146.8 vs 272.2 per 100k
Meridian
Median Home Value
$87k less
$425,800 vs $513,000
Meridian
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
2.7% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Meridian, ID | Ontario, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $425,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $513,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,548⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,826⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,296 ✓ Higher | $78,070 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.7% ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.8% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.5% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 76.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.4" | 11.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 18.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,872 | 176,326 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.3% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.1% ✓ More | 24.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Meridian's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Ontario's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 18 of 23 categories. Meridian wins 18 and Ontario wins 5. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Meridian to Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,800 vs $513,000 median home), income ($93,296 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Meridian, ID and Ontario, CA are about 665 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.